EXERCISE

Very short answer questions 

Q1. In which Viceroy’s time did the partition of Bengal take place?
Answer: The Partition of Bengal took place during the reign of Viceroy Lord Curzon (1899-1905).

Q2. On which date in 1905 did the partition of Bengal come into force?
Answer: The Partition of Bengal came into force on October 16, 1905.

Q3. In which meeting was the proposal of giving up foreign commodities accepted?
Answer: A huge public meeting was held at Town Hall of Kasimbazar, Calcutta, on August 7, 1905, where a unanimous decision was passed to boycott British goods.

Q4. Who was the editor of the journal Jugaantar published in the time of Swadeshi movement?
Answer: Bhupendra Dutta was the editor of the weekly journal ‘Yugantar’ published during the Swadeshi movement.

Q5. When was the institution named National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) established in Bengal?
Answer: The National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) was formed on March 11, 1906, at the Town Hall of Calcutta.

Q6. Who was the main introducer of the industry named Bengal Chemicals?
Answer: Acharya Prafulla Ray started the ‘Bengal Chemicals’ industry.

Q7. Under whose presidentship did the Conference of Indian National Congress accept the proposal of swaraj for Indians?
Answer: The Indian National Congress accepted the proposal for demanding Swaraj for the first time at its Calcutta session in 1906, under the presidentship of Dada Bhai Naoraji.

Q8. When did the unification of Bengal take place?
Answer: The unification of Bengal took place on December 12, 1911, as per the royal proclamation of Delhi.

Short/ long answer type questions 

Q1. Mention three main geographical regions of Bengal which were annexed to the province West Bengal and Assam created after the partition of Bengal.
Answer: The three geographical regions of Bengal that were annexed to the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam were Rajshahi, Dhaka, and Chattagram.

Q2. Write briefly about what were the intentions of the partition of Bengal.
Answer: While Lord Curzon proposed the Partition of Bengal for better administration due to its vast size, the real intention was to break the unity of the Bengal province. The British believed that a united Bengal was a strong force, and its partition would destroy this unity. The hidden purpose was to divide Hindus and Muslims by creating communal feelings. It was also planned to make Hindu-Bengalis and intellectuals a minority in both states and weaken them, thus resisting the growth of Indian nationalism.

Q3. Why was the anti partition of Bengal movement named as Swadeshi movement? Discuss briefly.
Answer: The anti-partition of Bengal movement was named the Swadeshi Movement because it was publicly recommended that Indians would unite to boycott foreign goods and use only home-made goods produced by Indians. This movement was a form of economic pressure on the British, as the activists refused to buy British goods and instead promoted indigenous products. The word ‘Swadeshi’ means “of one’s own country,” reflecting the movement’s goal of self-reliance and patriotism.

Q4. Discuss the contributions of Swadeshi movement towards national education.
Answer: The Swadeshi Movement had a significant influence on the educational system. When students participated in the movement, the government issued a circular warning them not to engage in political activity. In protest, students boycotted government institutions. In response, national leaders called upon students to leave government schools and colleges and embrace national education.

This led to the establishment of many national schools in various parts of Bengal, such as the Banga Jatiya Vidyalay and the second Jatiya Vidyalay in Rangpur. The National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) was formed, and Bengal National College was established with Aurobindo Ghose as its first principal. The movement led to the creation of 62 secondary schools and 3000 national primary schools, as well as institutions like the Bengal Technical Institute, which later became Jadavpur University.

Q5. How did the national industries develop during Swadeshi movement? Explain in short.
Answer: The Swadeshi Movement created a conducive environment for the growth of national industries. The increased demand for locally made goods led to the establishment of several large and small-scale industries. New industries were established for producing items like spinning machines, handloom products, mustard oil, soap, sugar, and matchboxes, as well as biscuit factories.

National banks and insurance companies also came into existence. Firms like the Swadeshi Bhandar and the Indian Stores were set up to sell India-made products. The movement also inspired the creation of heavy industries like the iron factory by Jamshedji Tata in 1907 and “Banga Lakshi Cotton Mill” and “Bengal Chemicals” by Nilratan Sarkar and Acharya Prafulla Ray, respectively. The boycott of foreign goods and the increase in local production led to a significant decrease in imported goods.

Q6. What were the anti-movement measures taken by the British to dominate Swadeshi movement?
Answer: The British government tried to suppress the Swadeshi Movement by offering various titles, posts, and medals to moderate Congress leaders to secure their loyalty. The government also arrested activists and leaders to control the agitation. For example, Sir Pulin Das, one of the leaders of the movement, was arrested. Police torture on Bhupendra Nath Dutta, editor of “Yugantar,” for his sharp criticism was also one of the measures. The government even executed Prafulla Chaki, which led to a day of mourning observed by the people of Bengal.

Q7. Mention three results of Swadeshi movement.
Answer: Three results of the Swadeshi Movement were:

1. The rise of national literature and education, with many magazines, newspapers, and educational institutions being founded to promote patriotism and indigenous knowledge.
2. The development of national industries, as the boycott of foreign goods led to a surge in demand for local products, resulting in the establishment of various factories and businesses.
3. The establishment of the Muslim League in 1906, which was influenced by the British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ to create a separate political identity for Muslims and weaken the Indian National Congress.

Q8. Mention three contributions of Swadeshi movement.
Answer: Three contributions of the Swadeshi Movement were:

1. It gave Indians a political understanding of how to conduct a mass movement, demonstrating that a movement could be successful if the majority of people come together for a common cause.
2. It forced the Indian National Congress to change its outlook from seeking peaceful demands to embracing mass struggle as the way to achieve India’s progress.
3. It inspired Indians to demand for Swaraj (self-rule), leading the Indian National Congress to officially adopt the proposal for Swaraj for the first time in its 1906 Calcutta session.

Write short notes on

1. Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore was a prominent figure in the Swadeshi Movement. He provided inspirational leadership through his speeches, songs, and by encouraging social harmony. On the day of the partition’s implementation (October 16, 1905), Tagore organized the ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ ceremony in Calcutta, where Hindus and Muslims tied Rakhis on each other’s wrists as a symbol of unity. His patriotic songs, such as “Amar sonar Bangla Ami Tomake Bhal Basi,” became an anthem for the movement and later became the national anthem of Bangladesh. He also called for the boycott of foreign goods and inspired the establishment of national educational institutions.

2. Margaret Elizabeth Noble (Bhagini Nivedita)
Answer: Margaret Elizabeth Noble, also known as Sister Nivedita, was a strong Irish lady who played an active role in the Swadeshi Movement. She was a disciple of Swami Vivekananda. During her time in Calcutta, she was associated with various organizations like the Youngman’s Hindu Union and the Dawn Society. She motivated young men and women to participate in indigenous industries and the national movement.

She transformed Abanindranath Thakur’s painting “Banga Mata” into “Bharat Mata,” an iconic symbol of Indian nationalism. Her contributions helped in arousing national awareness among the youth and women, and she was considered a source of inspiration for the movement.

3. Nawab Salimullah
Answer: Nawab Salimullah Khan was a key Muslim leader who supported the Partition of Bengal. He believed that the partition would benefit the Muslim community by creating a new province, “Eastern Bengal and Assam,” where Muslims would be in the majority. With the support of Lord Curzon, he organized a meeting at Dhaka palace on December 30, 1906.

This meeting led to the establishment of the All India Muslim League, a new political organization for Muslims, with the aim of increasing their loyalty to the British and protecting their political rights and interests.